Yemeni Houthi rebels have hijacked a car freighter in the Red Sea and taken the crew hostage. The “Galaxy Leader” belongs to the “Israeli enemy”. The Israeli government disagrees.
Houthi rebels hijacked a cargo ship off the coast of Yemen and took hostages. The Iranian-backed rebel group said it had hijacked an Israeli ship in the Red Sea and brought it to the Yemeni coast. The background is a “moral obligation to the oppressed Palestinian people,” said a message on X – the former Twitter – from Houthi spokesman Jahja Sari.
All ships with connections to the “Israeli enemy” are “legitimate targets.” On Sunday morning, the Houthis threatened to attack “all ships” with a connection to Israel.
Ties to British-Israeli businessman
According to Israeli information, the car transporter “Galaxy Leader” has 25 crew members, including people from Ukraine, Bulgaria, Mexico and the Philippines. It was on its way from Körfez in Turkey to Pipavav in India.
According to Israeli media reports, the ship is operated by a company partly owned by British-Israeli businessman Rami Ungar. The “Galaxy Leader” for transporting cars was built in 2002 and sails under the flag of the Bahamas. Ungar told The Associated Press that he was aware of the incident but could not comment because he was still waiting for details.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said it was not an Israeli ship. There are no Israelis on board. The hijacking was an “Iranian act of terrorism”. The Israeli army described the kidnapping as a “very serious incident of global concern.”
Houthis attacked with rockets and drones
The Houthi rebels have been fighting against the internationally recognized government of Yemen for years. They have controlled the Yemeni capital Sanaa since 2014. Since the beginning of the war between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas, they have fired drones and rockets at Israel several times. US warships also shot down Houthi missiles that were believed to have been launched towards Israel.
Yemen is located in the south of the Arabian Peninsula. The important shipping route to and from the Suez Canal in Egypt runs past it. This canal connects the Mediterranean with the Red Sea, providing the shortest sea route from Asia to Europe. About ten percent of world trade passes through the Red Sea.